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Fitness gear gifts that won't wind up at the bottom of the closet

By Staff, The Denver Post

Posted:
12/10/2013 11:23:36 AM EST

Foam rollers, like the ones made by Gaiam, are a great way to stretch and keep your muscles cramp-free between massages. (Provided by Gaiam)

Fitness-gear gifts that friends and loved ones will really use are harder to come by than you might think — there are plenty of things out there that companies label as “fitness” gear, but as anyone who works out will tell you, a lot of it is just junk that winds up at the bottom of the closet (running books might be a notable exception).

When something stands the test of time, that's when I start shelling out the bucks and sharing. These are a few items that passed this year:

Music-friendly ear muffs

Keeping your ears toasty while hiking or running can be an exercise in frustration when earbuds are involved — sometimes it's too warm to wear a hat or hoodie, but your ears get cold, and yet, we also want the tunes along. The Exolite 180s Ear Warmers are ideal, because they're lightweight and fold up by twisting the earpieces sideways, so that they lie flat in a pocket, and they are ingeniously designed so your earbuds can slip comfortably under the flaps. There are also women-specific models, Bluetooth-friendly and versions with fur. Bonus: The flaps are removable for washing. Cost: starting at $35 ( 180s.com)

Cold-weather headwear

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Lucy makes exercise wear for women, but the company's Reverse the Cold and Brave the Cold hats are especially fabulous, in part because each has a smart and durable slit that will accommodate a ponytail — crucial for allowing the wearer with long hair to snug the thing all the way down and actually keep her head warm. And if you don't need it, you won't even notice it's there. The hats come in black, grays, blue and green, in sweat-wicking fabrics. Cost: $25-$29 ( lucy.com)

Muscle cramps no more

Regular exercisers should be looking at massage as a necessity, not a day at the spa, but in lieu of or between a good rub-down, the next best thing is an all-over workout with a foam roller. Gaiam offers a variety of sizes, densities and lengths, each of which can target differing muscle groups to release tension and improve alignment, as well as be used for exercises, toning and stretching. Cost: $10-$45 ( gaiam.com)

Getting to the heart of the matter

Knowing your heart rate is one of the single most effective tools for analyzing your workout and improving it. Garmin's FR70 heart rate monitor is one of the easiest on the market to use, a straightforward setup that tracks your heart, time and calories, with optional add-ons for distance and speed as well as cycling. Upload the data to your computer for further study, or connect to others to bolster your efforts. Cost: basic unit starts at $130, add-ons at $70. (garmin.com/en-US)

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